Guck are a new band from Los Angeles, and their style is described as “loud, deranged, jazz-damaged noise rock.” Gucked Up (Three One G Records) is their debut record.

Guck band 2025 from pr with permission ghostcultmag

From the outset, the music that forms Gucked Up is uncompromisingly punishing. Jagged, angular noise rock guitar and bass riffs are underpinned by manic drumming that never lets up. Grooves and rhythms change constantly as the music crashes and jolts along. 

The record is harmonically interesting, with unusual Jazz chord voicings making regular appearances. Indeed, the music often straddles the line between complex harmony and discordance. 

There are also some interesting Prog Rock time signatures on offer, sometimes with a few changes within one song.

Sam Rogich’s synth parts provide additional sonic colour to the songs. Often delivering noisy textures or pulsating rhythmic ostinatos, these synths add to the outlandish nature of Gucked Up.

April Gerloff’s vocals are a unique focal point within Guck’s sound. Gerloff often utilises a deranged high-pitched squeal that is frighteningly powerful. Seemingly operating within their own peculiar musical scale system, Gerloff’s vocals are spat out with dramatic ferocity. They also sometimes provide guttural feral growls that can compete with the best metal vocalists.

As Gucked Up progresses, there is often the feeling that it could all fall apart at the seams at any second, especially when the music descends into swamps of chaotic noise as it regularly does. This chaos, however, is always under strict control by Gluck’s expert musicians, and they always rise out of the seemingly messy sections with grace and tightness.

There are several notable highlights along Gucked Up’s journey. The title track’s main riff, augmented by Gerloff’s screams, is monstrously intense. “Faith Hill Void” is full of bizarre jazz chords and syncopated stabs of noise. “GUBAR”’s potent one-chord main riff is, for all its fierceness, strangely catchy, whilst Gerloff’s quasi-spoken word vocals and Kyle Bray’s tight drumming perfectly complement it. “End of ETA” often feels perilously close to imploding as its riffs spill out into one another in wonderfully haphazard fashion. “IDAG” sees synth and guitar parts working in tandem to create tension and explosive release. “Human Caterpillar” builds towards a fearsome and cathartic climax.

Gucked Up is a darkly thrilling joyride through the world of Guck. It is crushingly heavy, joyously eccentric, and delightfully weird. Gucked Up will doubtless leave many eager to watch the development of Guck and their glorious world of noise.

Buy the album here:
https://guckitup.bandcamp.com/album/gucked-up 

8 / 10
DUNCAN EVANS
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